tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-283355782024-03-07T04:53:20.677-05:00Dressage MomI'm a wife and mother struggling with health issues. I don't ride anymore. And I'm not sure what my horse future looks like. Stay tuned...Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.comBlogger801125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-84697885600840747752018-03-20T00:58:00.000-05:002018-03-20T00:58:09.353-05:00Phrasing<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are some things that I've been told I say a lot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Simmer down!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Get your poop in a group."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"If it were easy, everyone would do it."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Allow me to explain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) Simmer down!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When your horse (or your kids, co-workers, or significant others) starts getting wound up and a little frantic, sometimes they just need to be told to simmer down. What that means for the speaker of "Simmer down" has given an implied offer of help with whatever situation has caused the up-simmering. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For example: Horse panics in the wash rack during a bath because "OMG BUBBLES". Get their attention by whipping out the "Simmer down!", and then soothe them to let them know that the bubbles are not really horse eating bubbles. Bubbles just eat dirt. Now stand your dumb ass still so I can rinse off the soap. Preferably said with love, but that's highly dependent on how many times the horse in question has stepped on you, stepped on the hose, or broken the cross-ties. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) Get your poop in a group. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Essentially, this is the clean version of "Get your shit together". Around horses, it can apply to cleaning stalls, or sweeping up a fresh aisle or wash rack poop. Manure nuggets are much easier to clean up if the poop is in a group. It can also be helpful if a horse is losing it's shit. Then you can say "Hey! That shit you are flinging around in a panic? Get it together! Get your pooped grouped!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This phrase was shamelessly stolen from my bestest buddy Meghan. I don't know where it came from but I find it hilarious and use it liberally. In and out of the barn. Judge me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3) If it were easy, then everyone would do it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This applies to riding, obviously. All those people who say "How hard can it be? The horse does all the work!" should really just suck it hard. We riders know the real score. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So here is where it gets personal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been too sick to ride for quite awhile. The last time I rode was March 31, 2017. On that day, after trotting for less than five minutes I was gasping for breath. This has led to a frustrating and exhausting search to find out what exactly is wrong with me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There's a diagnosis. Maybe I can get better. Maybe I can't. I'm not going to get into it but what I know is this: I can't ride the way I used to. With me, it's always been 100%. I don't half-ass anything. It's full ass or nothing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also am too weak to work. Or ride bikes with the girls. Or even walk around the block with them. It's pretty bad. For a week in late September 2017, I couldn't walk without help. Even with a cane I had people helping me to walk. It sucked. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This thing that's going on with me? It's not easy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For me to be able to ride in the beginning when I was 13, I had to fight for it. My parents weren't really supportive about the whole riding thing, so I did it myself (which, at times, involved lying to my parents which caused hurt feelings..sorry mom and dad). If I wanted a thing, I just worked my ass off until I got it. It really made me much more appreciative of the things that I had worked so hard for, instead of being given them. I never took for granted any opportunity to ride. It meant so much more to me since I had to work my ass off to get that opportunity. And miles and miles in the saddle on different horses? We all know that is key to becoming a versatile, instinctive rider. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This health situation that I'm in right now? I can't work harder. I can't try to make it better. If I try and do too much I will just get sicker. So I just have to wait. And rest as much as possible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Macey still takes weekly riding lessons. That kid is turning into such a good little rider. She's not the best (I'm not so star struck about my kid that I don't see where she can improve), but she tries and she is getting better. She can now fit into my boots, and into my breeches (which are too big for her in the legs and seat but at her age I had a tiny teacup ass too). I'm so proud of her that I could burst. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But it also makes me sad. And jealous. Yeah, that's immature of me. But it's the truth. I want my not-fucked up body back. I want to feel the horse move under me and be able to react to the movement. I want that connection. Also it would have been awesome to be able to ride with Macey someday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Right now, Phil has a new home. My awesome friends who just bought a farm took him in. They love him and are being so very nice to him. And, he's ridable. They have another horse on their farm too, and the two of them get along really well. I think Phil is really happy, and if I'm not able to give that life to him, I'm really very happy that someone else can. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kaswyn. My dear Kaswyn. I don't get out to see him as much as I'd like. I'm so exhausted most of the time, especially in the winter, that I'm lucky if I get out to see him twice a month. I know he's getting exceptional care, daily turnout in a very good herd group, and a staff that looks after him to make sure that his weight is ok and that he's acting normally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had this dream that I'd be 80 and still trucking down the centerline. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's just not going to happen. If I ever show again it will be a miracle. That life is over for me. I'm still grieving for the loss of it. Some days are easier than others. What I found that I can't do is watch horse videos (sales, show, lesson or schooling) because I get too sad. Riding has been a key part of my life for almost 37 years. Giving it up is hard enough. Watching Macey take her weekly lesson is not easy, but I'm there for her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I still have Kaswyn. He's not going anywhere. I can't ride him anymore, but I think we've both accepted that. He's always so happy to see me, because he's my best boy. And I'm his person. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway. I don't know what my riding future will look like. My riding present looks sad. I'll just keep hanging on, hoping that things will turn around eventually. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you all for your continued support. I feel your love and it's means a whole lot. Now go hug your ponies and have some great rides. No time to waste! </span><br />
<br />Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-35107596716973659032016-10-27T19:57:00.000-05:002016-10-27T20:05:49.054-05:00I was due<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hadn't fallen off a horse since 2009. I was due for a fall I guess. I fell off Phil today. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let me say I'm fine. I'm bruised and I'm going to be REALLY sore, but I'm going to be okay. I was wearing my helmet and didn't hit my head. The most annoying thing was getting dirt in my eyes (which really sucks with contacts!). </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's what happened. We were just warming up at the trot and as we approached the corner, Phil stumbled. At the moment that he was jamming his toe into the dirt, he spooked. Not having his feet firmly planted in the ground, he fell to his knees, and crammed his nose into the dirt just for good measure. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had no chance to stay on. I went right over his shoulder and off the saddle to the left side, banging my inside right leg on the saddle on my way over and out. I landed on my right hip and back. Kinda hard. Nothing like a full body slam to make your day! </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So then Phil was loose, and I had the wind knocked out of me. My friend Cindy was in the arena lunging her horse, and she said "Hey! Are you ok?!" I was making a really bad noise because I was trying to breathe and also tell her that I was fine. I got to my feet and was dreading trying to catch Phil. Then the most amazing thing happened. I called him and he trotted right up to me. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So this is a big deal. I can only assume that Phil has been punished for dumping riders in the past, and he was probably really scared about what would happen next. But, not having anyone else around that he trusted, he came to me. I got back on, and rode for another 30 minutes or so. He was tense, but really pretty good. But I didn't punish him at all. We just worked. Business as usual. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I was grooming him after the ride he was all over me. Seriously, this horse has never ever been so affectionate to me. Trying to grab my clothes, rubbing my shoulders, neck, and back. I have to wonder if some wall between us was smashed down today. I really do hope so. I would love to continue growing the trust between us. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, I'm very sore and bruised, but I still entered the schooling show on November 6th! Woohoo! I'm planning on doing a bunch of schooling shows this winter. We're making great progress on the connection issue. Maybe now we have made some progress on trust as well. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Right now though... ow! </span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcdBTi2_sDtfIDl2BOKVh_-6X2pGQiiPHIjx0iIWERTYEGyVB68UyNlkus5Z1TB4R7tziIqbCPVdqwjDLeLmlcZq6v7PiYABGpjSVHYOdMoIDff_k52ZENZ__PBOMP0TYwGGB4w/s640/blogger-image--1753626729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcdBTi2_sDtfIDl2BOKVh_-6X2pGQiiPHIjx0iIWERTYEGyVB68UyNlkus5Z1TB4R7tziIqbCPVdqwjDLeLmlcZq6v7PiYABGpjSVHYOdMoIDff_k52ZENZ__PBOMP0TYwGGB4w/s640/blogger-image--1753626729.jpg"></a></div>Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-55366332075817112792016-06-21T23:10:00.000-05:002016-06-21T23:21:45.601-05:00Good start..<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I rode Phil today, for the second time after a two week break, with no stirrups. It's not a super great ride because my legs were bothering him due to the whole no stirrup thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's the video proof! Macey was doing the video work! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/8MJnmwQY-NA" target="_blank">Phil 06/21/16 right</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/foJIegZqgSo" target="_blank">Phil 06/21/16 left</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The left video is kind of short because I ran out of storage on my phone. Oops! In spite of everything, Phil was fantastic. I'm pretty happy with him!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I have faith that we will be able to bounce back and have a decent go at the schooling show on July 10. </span>Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-9072689879106765002016-06-07T09:39:00.001-05:002016-06-07T09:39:50.176-05:00They say owning horses will make you broke....<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Things have been going really well with Phil. He's getting the idea of connection and is really starting to be able to keep his concentration while we are working. Sure, he sometimes gets distracted and might even spook a tiny bit, but overall I can keep his attention or get his attention back very quickly if he loses it. He's learning very quickly and seems happy and relaxed about it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was so excited about his progress that I entered a local schooling show. I signed us up for Training level test 3 and First level test 2. I had a lesson planned, had a trailer ride to and from the show, plus friends to hang out with. I was ready to take Phil to the show coming up this Sunday. Our first show in years! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Monday after I had another great ride on Phil, Macey helped me hose the mud off of Kaswyn. I led him back to his stall, and it just happened to be feeding time. Kaswyn has a horrible habit of running into his stall if he thinks there is food in there. He certainly thought his grain was in his stall, so he began to rush into his stall. I began to stop him, and at that second he stepped hard on my right foot. At the same time he was trying to stop, so he slid forward, making his foot scrape and slide over the top of mine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At first my two smallest toes were numb, but the rest of my foot was certainly in pain. I carefully handed Kaswyn off to Macey, and she led him into his stall without incident. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My main concern was that I had possibly lost one or both of my toes because they were numb. I carefully took my boot off and hobbled into the tack room. Fortunately fellow boarder Donna grabbed me a towel and an ice boot so I was able to get ice on it quickly. It didn't look horrible, but it was really painful. And my baby toe had weird numb places on it. Also, when I wiggled the end a little, there was a grating sensation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So off I went to Urgent Care (after picking Lily up from camp!) for some x-rays. Sure enough, it was broken. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What that means is:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No schooling show.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No lesson. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No riding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No walking without the lovely shoe that they gave me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4 - 6 weeks of healing, then I can get back to it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm hoping I can make the July schooling show. The good thing about owning an Arab is that you don't have to re-teach them things. I have confidence that Phil will pick up things relatively quickly once I start back to work with him. In the meantime, I get to rest and keep my foot elevated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Honestly, I'd rather be riding. </span></div>
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<br />Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-84664173618749536562016-05-17T20:20:00.001-05:002016-05-17T20:20:49.552-05:00You say it's your birthday......<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Phil turned 11 today! Birthday pics right here! (Thanks Z for the hat!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eLhPfapvPUsl6N9-YUa8jUFkmEYtdg3SYglQUvPZTYxbaIeokJxOpJK5EaUlr0roBJ7yTQD2pjmeukCWkmUWFGxs78w0JjC3RuHUNcYmH0a6gXJG2pSe1Rw8hoBPFckNO6zYFQ/s640/blogger-image-21672027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eLhPfapvPUsl6N9-YUa8jUFkmEYtdg3SYglQUvPZTYxbaIeokJxOpJK5EaUlr0roBJ7yTQD2pjmeukCWkmUWFGxs78w0JjC3RuHUNcYmH0a6gXJG2pSe1Rw8hoBPFckNO6zYFQ/s640/blogger-image-21672027.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also here is a shot of his sexy bod! He really looks great right now. We're making some progress on training too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Schooling show in June. We're working hard. I'll post video when I can. </span></div>
Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-1994058862540440172016-03-25T14:58:00.001-05:002016-04-07T22:46:22.561-05:00Proof that horses don't understand economics<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kaswyn says "This doesn't matter because blankets are free!"</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgen6zFYR6DwkUkY5bfJHCOSg2rDiLzOTOSvu551LJYOXPAm6qjqfCOuR3oG9F6mRgAuvXy8oGpz2TB9jBlZofKS-b485iilAoQn0HQijZlr7EbbXfAkgT1a2i4mI2tCCr45BOu9w/s640/blogger-image-2026344721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgen6zFYR6DwkUkY5bfJHCOSg2rDiLzOTOSvu551LJYOXPAm6qjqfCOuR3oG9F6mRgAuvXy8oGpz2TB9jBlZofKS-b485iilAoQn0HQijZlr7EbbXfAkgT1a2i4mI2tCCr45BOu9w/s640/blogger-image-2026344721.jpg" /></a></div>
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Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-14897991265033410102015-07-25T15:14:00.001-05:002015-07-25T15:17:02.977-05:00A Familiar Feeling<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Phil and I have been putting in some great rides lately. We had a fantastic lesson three weeks ago and, as usual, my trainers instruction has helped in huge ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before the lesson I had been concentrating on keeping Phil's neck loose, since his first instinct is to tighten the neck whenever he is resistant or stressed. To do this I was moving his neck left or right to alleviate the tension. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">During the lesson my trainer told me that it was time to just hold my hand still and firm and just push him into my hand. If I kept moving my hand and his neck around it would be really hard for him to establish a steady contact. Makes sense, right? At first Phil resisted but my trainer told me just to be firm. And after a few minutes, Phil relaxed his neck and established contact. THIS IS HUGE! My bit evading horse, making contact? So wonderful! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My trainer also started work on the flying changes. She gave me an exercise to begin training his mind and body for the change. We are to head across the diagonal at the canter and as we approach X, circle ten meters. Then we are to continue to circle and shorten the stride until Phil is coming through and on the contact. Then, walk and simple change at X. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a few tries, Phil knew exactly what we were doing, so he started anticipating, but kind of in a good way. Then she had me just ask for the flying change instead of the simple change. It really stressed him out but he did one clean change each way. Until the next lesson we will just work on the simple change exercise so he gets it in his mind that he's supposed to change leads. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today, though, something amazing happened. Halfway through our canter work, something felt familiar. Phil was cantering over his back, neck loose, mind and body relaxed, with a good jump, all with a steady but light contact. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He felt like Kaswyn. It was amazing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who is awesome? This guy! </span></div>
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Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-53789432001485222032015-06-19T17:13:00.001-05:002015-06-19T17:13:09.976-05:00The Horse PestererThe other day I only had a short time to spend at the barn. That meant no riding, but I did have enough time to turn my boys out for a little bit. They don't go out together anymore because Phil is a jerk and chases poor Kaswyn around. But since I was there to supervise I thought it would be fine. And it was, considering they were much more interested in the grass than each other. <div><br></div><div>Then of course I wanted pictures because it was a beautiful day. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZv0i7mABydqykFMCBEHZz5J6nLC6r4xr2jJUs2mzKsTgDdEUr-U-kz3_xb1PkDiqCLP1zfYqeu5_t1jHkMYdEVNSg7gX76RQZ7sxfOmQOlOjtX8hB1uQC9l47Y0EUBrDh-4yIw/s640/blogger-image-1442725320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZv0i7mABydqykFMCBEHZz5J6nLC6r4xr2jJUs2mzKsTgDdEUr-U-kz3_xb1PkDiqCLP1zfYqeu5_t1jHkMYdEVNSg7gX76RQZ7sxfOmQOlOjtX8hB1uQC9l47Y0EUBrDh-4yIw/s640/blogger-image-1442725320.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was following them a<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">round to try and get a good shot. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojWJx8k40Mbuy8PWgAysrj1jrf-rgNJ0Iy7AB1Ctai-WbEmT7jhkz3Pf2jH882Cm1CsB6lg2DASI3OvSPXNu6eMv7AZdkrkRdYgWGg0EN3hDVVpHVfrWd76M67lHpehwSN1hxYg/s640/blogger-image--621487123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojWJx8k40Mbuy8PWgAysrj1jrf-rgNJ0Iy7AB1Ctai-WbEmT7jhkz3Pf2jH882Cm1CsB6lg2DASI3OvSPXNu6eMv7AZdkrkRdYgWGg0EN3hDVVpHVfrWd76M67lHpehwSN1hxYg/s640/blogger-image--621487123.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I had to call their names to get them to pick their heads up. Phil was pretty cooperative. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8WdUJo8CJyqNc4juVapgKidYtKDqEwe7Z5mGUIOpefgqEgfNx06vxr2S2sS-dhJGfGDzSy_oazGU_Deqiv30ErrpsIIT99wfq6DCZg9l3kSFgwCmKWe9I-vxCXGkXXOmtfY7tA/s640/blogger-image--2091612873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8WdUJo8CJyqNc4juVapgKidYtKDqEwe7Z5mGUIOpefgqEgfNx06vxr2S2sS-dhJGfGDzSy_oazGU_Deqiv30ErrpsIIT99wfq6DCZg9l3kSFgwCmKWe9I-vxCXGkXXOmtfY7tA/s640/blogger-image--2091612873.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kaswyn, on the other hand, was completely ignoring me, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1afnnmdvvH_iD4y4CHpbO8TuB7NB8dlbGPgqSb4r8zD8Pbs9aHTN3bDLxDlRp-3NBBSQa9bxzKSdlPR-dlsftrQwUAxOzntPipVOCn0yecVLRFedhn6Gr7uubA7srD-Lln7Y30A/s640/blogger-image-1460040471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1afnnmdvvH_iD4y4CHpbO8TuB7NB8dlbGPgqSb4r8zD8Pbs9aHTN3bDLxDlRp-3NBBSQa9bxzKSdlPR-dlsftrQwUAxOzntPipVOCn0yecVLRFedhn6Gr7uubA7srD-Lln7Y30A/s640/blogger-image-1460040471.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1tmvcgnAXMR4E035mCy6eV-D7kEC7uPQPQJ7knOfiAZgWhDcWzKd7MPzO59d1pQ6JAxkrp5_0lyBlRVtV6I3uHqM01xzwp8OvTcsAwMHZUXk1fO1DEoRtWYh4ve7SUAsEFKD9Q/s640/blogger-image-1340940159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1tmvcgnAXMR4E035mCy6eV-D7kEC7uPQPQJ7knOfiAZgWhDcWzKd7MPzO59d1pQ6JAxkrp5_0lyBlRVtV6I3uHqM01xzwp8OvTcsAwMHZUXk1fO1DEoRtWYh4ve7SUAsEFKD9Q/s640/blogger-image-1340940159.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Finally he got sick of me calling his name and pestering him, so he threw me some shade. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Wmiln5fGKZQ_N8VF9_LGC20U-0o5DQlgWmqzHpkm2V09HELhjW5AZwMmK6kFK7fX8K8bO9tIsthwWiR2w6EVU1cNT9eH_zT4zYDe3o0Ob-HrFtKvPPTok_YzaAh7JCQ9IV0D4w/s640/blogger-image--168491936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Wmiln5fGKZQ_N8VF9_LGC20U-0o5DQlgWmqzHpkm2V09HELhjW5AZwMmK6kFK7fX8K8bO9tIsthwWiR2w6EVU1cNT9eH_zT4zYDe3o0Ob-HrFtKvPPTok_YzaAh7JCQ9IV0D4w/s640/blogger-image--168491936.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Uppity little thing, ain't he? Still, gotta love him! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-51465735735690752302015-05-29T11:22:00.001-05:002015-05-29T11:23:04.880-05:00Boots don't lie<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well I'm back to riding. A few observations: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dressage boots with no zipper or elastic will be brutally blunt about any weight gain. Mine were so tight it was painful just to be in them, let alone ride. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Taking them off was even more painful. It seems like I must make better choices when eating or buy new boots. The first one is cheaper so we'll go with that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Phil has been okay with returning to work but I feel like he's uncomfortable somehow. Or maybe he's not making as solid of a connection because he likes being off work! I'll just keep trying. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An old barn friend once told me that dirty horses are happy horses. Kaswyn has reached nirvana, everyone! </span></div>
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Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-51352800653096228862015-05-22T23:50:00.001-05:002015-05-22T23:51:58.378-05:00Taking a rest<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf71ycVftTf1xdZaE4JHAsOy8mubT80qaAM81-YFJeTvrxMvjxF1FDeUS2CRMQXUtpGD3EGTIDVpzpQG9yXtn0QEIWXxj4Rs_l2sucEGfiPdwmKRyPq7ZtYM_ua-_50kn5lbs-A/s640/blogger-image-1449811236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf71ycVftTf1xdZaE4JHAsOy8mubT80qaAM81-YFJeTvrxMvjxF1FDeUS2CRMQXUtpGD3EGTIDVpzpQG9yXtn0QEIWXxj4Rs_l2sucEGfiPdwmKRyPq7ZtYM_ua-_50kn5lbs-A/s640/blogger-image-1449811236.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not just Phil that's taking a little break, it's me too. I'm not able to ride right now. I had to have surgery on my face to remove a small bit of basal cell carcinoma. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before you get all freaked out by the Big C, this kind of carcinoma is easily treated by a procedure (called the Mohs procedure) and as of right now it is totally gone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The bad thing is that I haven't been able to ride for a week. I might be able to ride again in a few more days. But for right now, I can't ride until I'm all healed up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">BLAH!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So people, along with your helmets, wear your sunscreen outside! Especially during peak hours of 11am and 4pm. </span></div>
Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-64494151396555357622015-05-11T07:24:00.002-05:002015-05-11T07:24:40.943-05:00Mother's Day ride<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mother's Day for me started off with a lovely breakfast in bed served by my girls (assist from Craig, of course). Then I was off to the barn to see my pony boys. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I rode Phil and he was really good! We are still working stuff out, but I feel progress. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then I took Kaswyn out for a walk. He's completely recovered from his fall a few weeks ago, so we had a nice walk outside and a little graze. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsW38B9GewmqMoEf4cxI0iRCP9rUVmUCKyOYSSEGD9eSYMhSjLfnK4jgMl-OvrgVpZjmZ1cFvE0eAsWLQIsL6fj7YgZ5hjorK2HI4oMeo9hA22ctb0fvqEJd0MkwW61WoutenuLA/s640/blogger-image-1450439168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsW38B9GewmqMoEf4cxI0iRCP9rUVmUCKyOYSSEGD9eSYMhSjLfnK4jgMl-OvrgVpZjmZ1cFvE0eAsWLQIsL6fj7YgZ5hjorK2HI4oMeo9hA22ctb0fvqEJd0MkwW61WoutenuLA/s640/blogger-image-1450439168.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's easy to let him graze when I'm riding since I ride him in a halter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This horse is so fantastic. I wish everyone could meet him. He's the best! </span></div>
Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-72218380470500650892015-05-07T20:20:00.001-05:002015-05-08T07:19:48.169-05:00Loose<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ride Phil outside again today. It was really lovely. The footing was perfect, the breeze kept the bugs off of us, and Phil was a pretty good boy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">High off my ride from Phil, I decided to hop on Kaswyn just to walk him around outside. It was my first ride on him since his terrible fall, and it was really nice. Both boys got a quick bath after their work, and went back to their stalls to eat their hay. It was such a great evening all the way around. Little did I know...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was cleaning up the wash rack when I heard Phil nicker in a strange way, and then I heard hoof steps in the aisle. Since I was the only one at the barn, I found this somewhat alarming. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ran into to aisle to see Kaswyn trotting towards me. I held my hands up and said "Kaswyn! Whoa! You stop now!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He turned around and ran into the arena, where he proceeded to run around loose like a total boob. All I could think about was that the last time he was loose in the arena he fell in the most horrible way, Finally he stopped and let me catch him. I think he was really proud of himself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I put him back in his stall, making sure that I latched the door this time. He scared me, but who could stay mad at this innocent face? </span></div>
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Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-21238128821492781942015-05-05T19:31:00.001-05:002015-05-08T07:19:30.175-05:00Rain riding<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today when I got to the barn I went to check the outdoor arena before I decided where to ride. Since it had rained off and on all day I was concerned that the outdoor would be too wet. To my delight, the footing was perfect, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course I lunged Phil first, and I was able to get some pics. Check mah boy out! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YYs6_kYZrGIQuogUFsLTB_32l6hmCYPB58SDUcAo3_kne2zoW66V0rGlldFCiXaEfVaWCV8JF6CaozYYl1L2g2pMfUGEiW2HS-qMa0eSauYVwXE0nSk8WmKFR3XXRkXKV40cng/s640/blogger-image--1125694797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YYs6_kYZrGIQuogUFsLTB_32l6hmCYPB58SDUcAo3_kne2zoW66V0rGlldFCiXaEfVaWCV8JF6CaozYYl1L2g2pMfUGEiW2HS-qMa0eSauYVwXE0nSk8WmKFR3XXRkXKV40cng/s640/blogger-image--1125694797.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The ride was virtually goose-free, and even though it was raining lightly it didn't seem to bother Phil. The only thing that was annoying was all the sand that got on my boots when I lunged. It made the bottom of my boots slippery and I kept losing my stirrups. Either that or I was doing something weird with my legs or feet or something. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The cleanup afterwards kind of sucked because there was wet sand everywhere, but I still had a good ride. Go Phil! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kaswyn is doing well too! I think I'll hop on him and have a little stroll around this week. I do love that boy! </span></div>
Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-30984498887311683592015-05-03T18:46:00.001-05:002015-05-08T07:18:45.968-05:00Plans, we got em.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had planned on going to a bunch of recognized shows with Phil this year. However, we had some setbacks in the beginning of the year that made me rethink that decision. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While Phil is much more ridable than he once was, I realized that we were still missing a major component of dressage: connection. We've been working very hard on this, and I am now planning on going to the NODA schooling show series this summer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have to discipline myself and lunge Phil before I ride him, not because he's silly if I get right on him, but because it helps Phil to relax his back and stretch into the bit. It takes longer and it gives me more tack to clean at the end of the day, but Phil is certainly more through his back and makes a better connection when I lunge him first in side reins, even if it's for five minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today was beautiful so we rode outside again. I forced myself to lunge him first and we had a great ride. Except we had another run-in with the geese! Those damn geese are secretly plotting against me. I must say that Phil freaked much less than he did last time. He was able to get back to work pretty quickly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am certain that we'll continue to make progress. I'm really excited about this year. I just hope I can get a ride to the shows...not having a truck and trailer really sucks! </span></div>
Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-80812327024319792902015-04-30T19:11:00.001-05:002015-05-08T07:18:32.393-05:00First day out<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had been chatting with the barn owner and asked her if she thought the outdoor arena was ok for riding. She told me yes, it had been for awhile. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well damn! I hate to miss a good opportunity. So even though the weather was cool and cloudy, I went outside to ride Phil. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We lunged first and he was a bit distracted by the new horses in their pasture next door. But all in all he was working really well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That is, until the two geese in the pond 25 meters away from the arena decided they needed to go someplace. They flew off in a fury of flapping and honking that sent Phil over the edge. He bolted and ran. It was all super exciting! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We got ourselves back to work and he was really good again. Nice recovery, my boy! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you zoom in you can see one of the birds came back, and then walked towards the arena! Phil was not amused. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then we went inside and before I could get the bridle off of him, he rubbed his fave on the wall. Of course he caught the bridle on a hook, and of course, it broke. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Good thing I have that bridle my sister got me for Christmas! Luckily Craig can stitch it for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's hope we can ride outside tomorrow too! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(I'm using the Blogger app. Let's hope everything doesn't look weird) </span></div>
Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-62890830339352573332015-04-27T18:51:00.000-05:002015-04-27T18:51:00.294-05:00Kaswyn's Birthday Bash - Part 3<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://dressagemom.blogspot.com/2015/04/kaswyns-birthday-bash-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a></span><br />
<a href="http://dressagemom.blogspot.com/2015/04/kaswyns-birthday-bash-part-2.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 2</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kaswyn was slowly recovering from his fall. I heard him start to chew and then he swallowed. He seemed steadier, and was able to look at me. I made sure he could see out of both eyes, and hear out of both ears. Then I walked around him and ran my hands down his legs. Everything seemed to be in the right place. The only injury I could see was on his upper lip, which he had somehow taken a chunk out of. It was pretty superficial and wasn't bleeding so I wasn't really worried about that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ran my hands down his back, and he started to walk around me. Since he was willing to walk, I walked him around. He seemed very sound, and was becoming more alert to his surroundings. I walked him in a small circle in each direction and that's when I noticed that he didn't want to bend his neck. He was holding it absolutely straight out in front of him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My phone rang with the vet on the other end. She asked questions about what was going on with him, and had me apply pressure to him in certain places to determine where he had pain. In the end she said she could send someone out to x-ray his neck, but said that due to where I said he was sore, that he probably didn't break anything and had just really wrenched his neck muscles. She said that if he had a neck fracture that it would be difficult for him to stand, and that if he could stand he'd at least be exhibiting some neurological symptoms, which he was not. I decided not to have her come out, but that I would give him bute and if he didn't improve in an hour, or got worse, that I would call back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My farrier arrived just as I was finishing my call with the vet. I explained to him what happened, and he watched him walk away from him, then back towards him. Then he took Kaswyn's tail, and pulled him to the side. Then he asked me to do the same. What I felt is that Kaswyn resisted and pulled back against me when I pulled his tail. My farrier said that was a good sign. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the end, all that happened to Kaswyn was a very sore and pulled neck. His mouth started bleeding, so it's likely that the pop I heard when he fell was hit biting his tongue! So he got a few days of bute, his hay in a haynet for a bit, and lots of love. I was very lucky that he didn't hurt himself more seriously. I don't need any more scares like that! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Three days later, he's outside in the sun, cute face and all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-26990501564561702122015-04-25T21:54:00.000-05:002015-04-27T18:51:47.645-05:00Kaswyn's Birthday Bash - Part 2<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://dressagemom.blogspot.com/2015/04/kaswyns-birthday-bash-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1 </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kaswyn had just completely wiped out in the arena. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ran over to Kaswyn and he lifted his head up. He looked dazed, and was shaking. I told him to whoa as I clipped the lead rope to his halter, but he really wanted to stand. Before I could stop him he heaved himself to his feet, but he wasn't really standing. All four legs were still very bent and he was close to the ground. I was convinced that he was going to fall over. I just kept telling him "Kaswyn, you're ok, lie down, it's ok, you don't have to stand, whoa sweeite..." There was blood coming out of his mouth, and he still didn't look like he was clearly aware of what was going on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In between reassuring him, I shouted for the barn owner. She had just been in the barn feeding and I was hoping she was still there. I didn't hear her answer, so I called the vet. I told them I needed someone out right away, that my horse had fallen down. They told me they would have a vet call me back right away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I waited for the phone to ring, Kaswyn slowly began to straighten his legs. Eventually he was able to fully stand, but he was really wobbly and his eyes looked very glassy. I still really wanted him to lie down but I know that horses feel more comfortable standing if they can. There was blood dripping from his mouth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I held onto his head, gently petting his neck and talked to him while I waited for the vet to call me back. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIytZIxZdf76j4J8mcyUqCscyh_NZmLVX_jBUc3N7Ty5CqhARvGwn1Lw1bJmGEo0GKPBiH1X2tYZcKs8G3T8ReD-bkdEsDCTxx0dzPo3T5SUWyQFq799FKFSeYABgRikMg_RgPdw/s1600/Kaswyn+04-24-15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIytZIxZdf76j4J8mcyUqCscyh_NZmLVX_jBUc3N7Ty5CqhARvGwn1Lw1bJmGEo0GKPBiH1X2tYZcKs8G3T8ReD-bkdEsDCTxx0dzPo3T5SUWyQFq799FKFSeYABgRikMg_RgPdw/s1600/Kaswyn+04-24-15.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To be continued...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://dressagemom.blogspot.com/2015/04/kaswyns-birthday-bash-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a></span>Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-50442820521165721912015-04-24T10:59:00.000-05:002015-04-25T21:55:46.435-05:00Kaswyn's Birthday Bash - Part 1<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kaswyn turned 24 on April 23, 2015. It was a regular barn day for me, so after work I headed out to the barn as usual. The only difference is that I wouldn't be riding because the farrier was coming out to take care of the boys' feet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I got to the barn I knew that the farrier would be arriving within a half an hour, so I decided to turn Kaswyn loose in the arena. He loves to roll in the sand, plus sometimes he likes to herd me and chase me around. That day he decided that rolling was his first priority, but he was reasonably clean so I kept him moving instead of letting him roll. Then he gave up on rolling and started trotting around and enjoying himself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took this short video of him at the trot because he was looking so great! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He would stop every so often and look out the window or sniff the manure bucket, then he'd trot off again, occasionally cantering off halfway down the arena. He had taken a few bad steps with his back legs at the canter that day, and they looked like steps that hurt but he was able to quickly get his weight off the leg and recover just fine. I already knew that his suspensory ligaments were in bad shape, so I wasn't surprised that he had occasional pain at the canter. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was watching him the whole time, so I clearly saw what happened</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> next. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kaswyn had just cantered by me, when his back legs gave out. They slid completely under his body, and his front end came off the ground. His momentum carried him forward on his back, until somehow he flipped completely over backwards. I heard a popping sound just as he landed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To be continued...</span><br />
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<a href="http://dressagemom.blogspot.com/2015/04/kaswyns-birthday-bash-part-2.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 2</span></a><br />
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Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-47926993494696973312014-12-09T14:44:00.000-05:002014-12-09T15:00:33.846-05:00Phil's Progress - The Building <div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have been working on Phil on many different ways. I had a great lesson where my trainer warmed me up and then said "Okay, do you have anything specific you want to work on?" Yes, I sure did, and it wasn't a specific movement. I pointed at Phil's butt and said "Did you notice how his butt isn't round right here, and here?" and she said, "That's one of the first things I noticed." Then I said "Well, that's what I want to work on!", knowing that if his butt is not shaped properly we must not be doing something right. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is a photo of the butt, taken on August 29, 2014. You can see how it's got a bump at the top, and on either side of the bump where the red arrows are there aren't muscles where there should be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So how do I fix this? Body building, said my trainer! Lots of 10 meter circles at the trot and canter. Making him go to the outside rein in the circles, and not falling in. The hardest thing to accomplish was getting him to stay on the bit! At that point, in late summer, we were still struggling with connection. Luckily, the body building process helped both of us with the connection issues. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At first, Phil didn't want anything to do with the circles. He was resistant, and would almost toss his head every time I turned him with the left rein. He wasn't all that please with me using the right rein either. For the first few weeks we were both frustrated, but I refused to stop. There was a lesson to be learned here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, about three weeks in, he finally just accepted that I'm going to have to turn his head, and he doesn't have to have a temper tantrum every time. It was a major turning point in Phil's training. Writing this almost four months later, I can absolutely say that was when we both started to really get down to business. I use the rein, and he's okay with it. What a concept! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We continued with the body building until our next lesson, which I'll post video of. My trainer said that he looked like a totally different horse, in a good way! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next step: Getting Loose</span></div>
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Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-12899134105888000872014-08-27T09:00:00.000-05:002014-12-09T15:04:03.810-05:00Munchies<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">For the past
four winters, Kaswyn has dropped weight. To help keep weight on him I have been
putting him on alfalfa cubes just in the winter. He loses a little but always
gains it back in the spring. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">This year, that didn’t happen. I kind of attributed it to the
fact that he was in pain. I even asked Dr. B about it and he didn’t seem very
concerned. On the contrary, he was happy that Kaswyn wasn't super
heavy because that would be worse for his leg problems. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">Still, Kaswyn was looking pretty skinny. So much so that the
barn owner was concerned enough to approach me about having him tested for
something. She said he seems absolutely STARVING all the time, and is eating as
much grain and hay as the big horses in the barn. Of course this is concerning,
and we started thinking about what the cause could possibly be. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">Well, it turns out that Kaswyn and Phil were switched last
fall to one of the low sugar, low starch grains that many people use. Kaswyn
has been on this grain before and did really poorly on it. This happened many
years ago, and after trying everything (even their fat supplement, which we
ended up giving him more of than the actual grain), I switched him back to
Purina. He put weight back on and started looking great again. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">Now I know a lot of people think that horses should be eating
the low sugar, low starch grains, but Kaswyn just doesn’t do well on them. I’m
not saying they are bad, because Phil looks and feels fantastic. It’s just
something about Kaswyn’s metabolism that doesn't work well with the
grain. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">So now he’s back on Purina Strategy and Equine Senior.
Hopefully we can get some weight on him before it starts to get cold again. I’m
getting a little concerned about this coming winter. All the horses, especially
Kaswyn, are already blowing out their summer coats. Usually I don’t notice the
summer coat shedding all that much, but this year it’s like it’s all coming out
at once, really fast. What do these horses know about winter that we don't?
It doesn't bode well, I’m thinking. If we have another winter like
last one, I’ll need to find somebody to blame. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Long live summer! </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-4233659317422787412014-08-23T17:38:00.000-05:002014-12-09T15:02:44.562-05:00Transitions<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">I’ve been
working really hard with Phil to get him to relax with me riding with a
dressage whip. It’s very difficult because I know he’s scared, and I don’t want
to cause him undue stress. However I really feel like this is something that he
has got to accept eventually. As my trainer has told me before, “If you’re not
going to do it now, then when? In a year? Two years?” So it’s got to be now,
because sometimes I feel like I need just a little tap on the haunches to help
me out now and then with leg yields. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">Last week we had a pretty bad day so I decided that we’d stay
on the 20 meter circle and work on shortening and lengthening his stride. I
figured that could help him concentrate and give him less distractions as we
worked. I found out that, at some point along the way, he got very confused as
to what the aide for “canter” was. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">Turns out that he got the impression that if I used my
“driving seat” across the diagonal at the trot, I meant “lengthen the stride”.
But “driving seat” at the trot anywhere else meant “canter” regardless of if my
outside leg was there or not. Of course, this is a problem. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">We’ve spent the last few sessions sorting this out. He was
making errors, and he knew that he was wrong, and I had the whip, so he got
himself all upset that he was going to get a punishment instead of a
correction. This was exhausting for both of us. I took walk breaks and gave him
a chances to settle down and think, but at times he just completely came off
the rails and would bolt wildly when he realized that I really meant “lengthen”
and he accidentally cantered. I never even so much as tapped him with the whip,
but the combination of me holding the whip and him being confused and making
errors was very difficult for him. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">As of our last ride he has gotten the idea that “seat and
outside leg back” meant canter, and “seat plus light leg at the girth” meant
lengthen the stride at the trot. However our canter transitions are quite bad.
He LEAPS forward with his head in the air, as if to say “I’M DOING IT DON”T HIT
ME”. He doesn't always get it right, bit he's really trying. I know that
eventually he’ll get over this, but I’ve had him for three years now. I was
hoping that he’d trust me by now. It’s just taking much longer than I thought.
To give him credit, he is much, much better when I use just the short jumping
bat. We just need more time I guess. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">I am trying to set up a lesson for next week. Maybe I can get
a little video too! We’ll see. Of course I’m excited!</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;"> </span></span>Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-81624607595366209742014-06-25T12:00:00.000-05:002014-06-25T12:00:00.985-05:00Kaswyn, Master of The Unexpected<div class="yiv1764201771MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2341" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_3977" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kaswyn’s not doing so well right now.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2339" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">He started out a few months ago feeling a bit off. Since he was on "light duty" I decided just to take is easy on him and mostly walk and maybe trot a little. He’s been getting steadily worse since then, despite some time off and a course of bute. He started slightly head bobbing at the walk, and definitely head bobbing at the trot. I suspected his hocks needed injecting plus a resurgence of the left front foot issue that has plagued us for many years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dr. B came out to take a look at him. To my surprise he started his exam at Kaswyn's knees. He palpated his knees, finding fluid there. Then he felt his back legs and found thickening of both suspensory ligaments. The flexion tests were pretty positive for lameness, 2 out of 5 for all legs involved. Surprisingly he was Churchill negative (which is usually indicative of hock pain). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">After the x-rays and a long discussion with Dr. B, what it comes down to is this: Kaswyn has chronic arthritis in both front knees and chronic desmitis in both hind suspensories. He is now in total retirement, no riding even at the walk for now. According to Dr. B it's nothing that I've done in the past year or so. It's just old age, and possibly a genetic predisposition to have these conditions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We have begun a course of bute, which we will reduce slowly until we find a dose that is the lowest amount of bute that keeps him sound at the walk. From there we will replace some of the bute with aspirin, or Previcox, or both, until we have a combination of meds that is as low a dose of bute as possible and still keep Kaswyn comfortable. Kaswyn is also on isoxsuprine, and Equithrive. I tried to take him off of the Equithrive and put him on another supplement, but he got worse, so we're back to the Equithrive. After five days I could already see from the look in his eyes that he feels better. We have a lot of fiddling to do with his meds, but we'll get there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am quite sad about this whole thing. I really thought I still had years of hacking him around, or even trail riding. I'm not sure if we'll be able to do that anymore. But I owe that horse everything. He taught me so much, was there for me through all my fumbling to learn dressage, and always tried his little heart out. He has always been an extraordinarily smart, selfless partner. The very least I can do is keep him comfortable and happy for as long as possible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just before Dr. B left I said "Knees and suspensories. I certainly didn't expect that." Dr. B said "Neither did I. He just had to be different." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's Kaswyn. Never boring. </span></div>
Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-77114817805666397542014-06-23T20:32:00.002-05:002014-06-23T20:32:39.006-05:00Things sure have changed<div class="yiv1764201771MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2297" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2296" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I've had this blog for many years, and over those years I've often gotten this question:</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2319" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">How do you do it all? Family, work and riding?</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2322" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The fact is, right now, I’m not getting everything done that I want to. One of those things is this blog.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2325" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When my girls were younger, it was easier. They went where we went, did what we did, and went to bed early. Now they are older and have their own interests. What used to be an afternoon of picking the girls up at daycare, eating dinner, and going to bed, is now a mad rush to leave work, pick them up, get homework done, dinner eaten, and then a dash out to get them to their activities, then showers and bed.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2327" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Something had to suffer, and it was writing my blog. I used to be able to shoot off a quick blog post at night, but by the end of the day now I’m too tired to write. So instead of writing I try and spend some time with Craig before I need to get in bed myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Other things have suffered a lot too. Like my house. First, my tack is cleaner than my house. For a while I was driving myself mad trying to keep the house clean. I’d stress about all the toys on the floor, and the state of the girl’s rooms. I’d look outside at all the weeds and overgrown bushes and fret about it.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2370" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It’s taken me some time, but I've finally just given in to the fact that these things don’t really matter. My girls are 9 and 10 years old right now. In a few short years their toys will be replaced with phones and computers. They won’t want to be at home, with their mom and dad. They’ll want to be out with friends.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2332" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So I've been trying very hard not to let the mess bother me. Sure, sometimes I go on a manic cleaning binge, but for the most part if I can walk a path through the room I’m ok.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2373" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I've been trying to spend some more time with the girls. I know I don’t do that as much as I’d like to, since I have a full-time job that also requires me to work one or two weekends a month. But we try and play games together. I know that being a stay-at-home mom is not an easy job, but when summer rolls around and I know that a bunch of moms on my street have their kids all summer, I get jealous. They go to the pool all day, or to the lake, or where ever. I know that it’s not all fun and games, and that there’d be times that I’d want to tear my hair out, but I’ll never have that.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403572241863_2344" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yes, I’m still riding, just not 5 or 6 days a week like I used to. Now it’s 3 or 4, which is really ok. I need to spend this time with my kids now, because I’ll never get this time with them back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do have updates on Phil and Kaswyn. I'll get those posted when I can! </span></div>
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Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-78377785672650125872014-02-24T09:00:00.000-05:002014-02-24T09:00:14.749-05:00Not much, how bout you? The one about Phil. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Phil is fantastic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I hurt my neck for work I took 3 months off from work and riding. Phil got worked during that time, but I couldn't afford for him to be ridden as much as I would have if I'd been riding. I was completely thankful for the help but I wanted to ride! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as I went back to work, I went back to riding. Sadly, right around this time the owner of our barn passed away, and I had to move barns. That really throws Phil for a loop and our first few rides were a bit rough while he got used to the place. Then the arctic freeze hit Ohio and much of the Midwest/East Coast, so I had lots of days where I just couldn't ride. I know lots of people did, and that there is a huge debate on how cold it can be and still be ok to work your horse. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the problem when it gets cold. It's not him I'm worried about, it's me. Since I have cold induced asthma, riding and exercising when it's that cold sends me into quite an alarming asthma attack. I've been on a horse before and have had to stop because I was gasping for breath. Not really fun, let me tell you. So I've set a rule for myself that if it's less than 25 degrees outside I won't ride. Chances are at that temperature it's warm enough in the barn that I can still ride. So far this rule has served me well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because of this long stretch of really cold weather I wasn't even going out to the barn. Just being out in that extreme cold makes my lungs seize up. It's quite uncomfortable. Therefore, I missed a whole lot of riding since the beginning of the year. I was able to ride random days here and there, but our training was disturbingly uneven. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past week we had a warm up in the weather, so I decided it was time to get things done. Phil had finally settled into the new barn, and had gotten used to all the noises that the barn and arena make. So I decided it was time. I was finally going to teach Phil that he could accept contact. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a long time I rode him with very little leg because he would shoot forward when I used my leg. He also didn't like it when I took contact. I spent most of my time trying to fix the front end with my hands and some with my seat, but really what I needed was for Phil to go to my hand and make contact when I put my leg on. Easier said than done with a horse that is over sensitive to the leg and avoids contact with the bit! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuesday's ride was difficult for both of us. I decided a while ago that above the bit was not acceptable, but I tried very hard not to fuss with his his face too much. Instead I just put my leg on and drove him to my accepting hand (at least I tried my best to). Well, Phil thought this was a terrible idea. It was a rough ride for both of us. Thursday was better, but Phil still was resistant to actually making that contact. Yet he was a tad bit lazy off of my leg. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday, I put the spurs on. Phil is surprisingly accepting of the spurs, and we actually had a great ride. I forced myself to not fuss with his face, and relied on my leg and seat to drive him into my hand. I'm not saying it was a perfect ride because we both made our mistakes. But Phil was finally going to my hand off of my seat, and I was finally leaving his face alone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plus the leg yield to the left is getting much better. We get four to five really good steps before he loses the rhythm and his haunches fall behind. The leg yield to the right still needs work. He is resistant to go to the right at first so it starts off a bit rough. He can do it, but it's not very good. Yet!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He gets the idea of shoulder in very well. However I feel like he's a little too bunched up when we try it. I'd like it more if he would take some bigger steps during the shoulder in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The canter work is coming along really well. I need to remember to actually sit my butt down in the saddle and relax my legs. It's hard because his canter can be quite big and I still have memories of him taking off with me, so my body reacts with a gripping leg without me thinking about it. I have to constantly remind myself to relax my legs, use my seat, and make my core work for me. We've been doing shallow serpentines at the canter (or a shallow loop if you want to call it that, where we go from the corner across the diagonal to X then back to the corner on the same side). His balance is quite good, and I can tell when we come across the diagonal he is waiting for me to tell him what to do. Sometimes we do the turn at X and continue the canter the same direction. Sometimes we canter to X, come to the trot, pick up the other lead and continue across the diagonal. Sometimes we continue across the diagonal and keep the lead and counter canter a lap or two. And sometimes I ask for a little haunches in across the diagonal at the canter. Little beginnings of canter half-pass. I can feel him trying to love the haunches over. We are certainly not there yet, but he gets the idea. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Phil has improved so much since I got him. He really wants to be in the program (as long as the program doesn't include whipping). He tries really hard and is super smart. Now we just need some consistency and we may actually be ready for some shows this year! I know I said that last year but I didn't feel ready. I think I may never feel ready, so I just need to go and do it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll keep you posted if we enter any shows. I'm excited about my little grey horse! </span>Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28335578.post-35319058268958939272014-02-22T09:30:00.000-05:002014-02-22T09:30:08.588-05:00Not much, how bout you? The one about Kaswyn<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kaswyn, the wonder Arab. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He's been feeling surprisingly good lately. And I almost fell off him a week ago. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been following my typical routine of riding him bareback and in a halter. We have just been trotting around a bit, and he's really felt decent for such an old fart. He's no stranger to the mounting block. However, he's been getting very excited about every ride. While I understand his enthusiasm, it's imperative that he stand still at the mounting block. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somehow, one evening, he decided that trotting off while I was 25% on his back would be a good thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was one of those "Oh no, oh NO, I'm going to fall off OH SHIT HORSE STOP!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I said WHOA! I hollered his name. I swore a few times. He did not stop. I grabbed mane. I used my lead rope as leverage and steered him towards the wall. That was the thing that stopped him. I was able to shimmy my butt onto his back and avoid hitting the dirt and making the walk of shame back to my loose horse (LOOSE HORSE!! LOOSE HORSE!!). Even though I saved that particular situation, something had to be done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time to be tough about the mounting protocol! Now when I get on him, I make him face the wall. I tell him to WHOA and pull the lead rope to make him know I mean business. So far the's been pretty good. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem is that Kaswyn has a sense of humor. He's the funniest horse that he knows. He thinks it's funny to pretend to bite me. He thinks it's hilarious to grab my coat in his teeth and yank me around. He thinks it's the funniest thing ever to grab the halter in his teeth when I'm trying to put the halter on him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong, I love his shenanigans. When he's feeling good, he goofs around. When the goofing around stops, then I know he's hurting somewhere, somehow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I hope Mr. K keeps up with the silliness, because right now that old boy is feeling GREAT. </span>Dressage Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com1